Friday, May 22, 2026 - The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Kenya has dismissed claims that Prime Minister Kier Starmer’s office rejected a meeting request from Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader, Rigathi Gachagua.
In a statement issued on Friday, May 22nd, the UK
Embassy flagged a letter circulating online, purportedly signed by
Parliamentary Under‑Secretary, Ashworth Cole, as fake.
The letter had suggested that Gachagua was denied an
audience with Starmer due to concerns about his 2027 presidential ambitions.
“The British High Commission in Nairobi confirms that this letter
circulating on social media is fake. If it were real, it would probably be
stained with spilt tea. On a more important note, Happy Biodiversity Day,”
the Embassy quipped in its statement.
The fake letter claimed Starmer’s diary was fully booked and
insinuated that the British Premier did not wish to meet Gachagua because the
engagement was politically motivated.
“It has come to our attention that the principal purpose of the
engagement being sought was not consular, humanitarian or bilateral in
character, but rather oriented towards the domestic political landscape of the
Republic of Kenya.”
“The Majesty’s government wishes to make its position unambiguously
clear; the United Kingdom does not consider it appropriate for the political
contests of a sovereign nation to be conducted, signalled, or validated through
engagements with British Ministers or officials,” the forged
document read.
The incident subjected Gachagua to ridicule from political
rivals who fell for the fake letter before it was debunked.
Gachagua is currently in the UK on a political tour, meeting
Kenyans living and working in Britain to drum up support for his DCP party.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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